1 Thessalonians 5:17

1 Thessalonians 5:17 NIV84

pray continually;

1 Thessalonians 5:17 NLT

Never stop praying.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 NKJV

pray without ceasing,

1 Thessalonians 5:17 The Message

pray all the time;

If we just took that verse and lived it out, we would have a blessed life. However, I believe that God wants us to have a blessed life with purpose and fulfillment.

The example of Paul, the writer of this verse, was a person of prayer.

Romans 1:10 NIV84

in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you.

1 Thessalonians 1:2 NIV84

We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers.

2 Thessalonians 1:11 NIV84

With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.

He also encourages his readers to devote themselves to prayer:

1 Thessalonians 5:25 NIV84

Brothers, pray for us.

2 Thessalonians 3:1 NIV84

Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you.

Romans 12:12 NIV84

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Philippians 4:6 NIV84

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Colossians 4:2–3 NIV84

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.

The command of Jesus also:

Luke 18:1 NIV84

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.

And then notice our verse of tonight’s study: Pray continually.

Notice how this verse is placed in our Bibles:

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 NIV84

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Pray continually is sandwiched between “be joyful always” and “give thanks in all circumstances.”

As we are commanded to be joyful always, I am reminded that Christian joy is not rooted in circumstances or in stuff, but rather rooted in the Gospel of Christ, infused with hope and grows as we experience a relationship with Jesus.

Prayer is not a timed event but a common and constant element in one’s daily life. It is not the moving of one’s lips by the elevation of one’s heart.

The attitude of the heart becomes the intention of the mind. As a result , we thank God in all situations because we know that to do so is to see God working in all situations to bring about His divine will.

As we do, our rejoicing becomes our prayer which becomes our worship and in our worship we thank God continually.

So how do we do this? Make you a sandwich.

Make a list of why we should rejoice.